First litter of kits!!

[collie/grey 238]

Hi all,

 

just went to feed and water the ferrets and found the first litter of kits born, haven't had a litter for about 3 or 4 years now so im well excited!! I think they are only a few hours old, the jill is really laid back though she wasn't bothered about me at all. There's 9 i think i counted, so so tiny i couldn't remember just how tiny they were. Has anyone any tips on the rearing of the litter? Any help will be most appreiciated.

[scothunter 12,609]

well my 1st piece of advice would be to stop handling them mate,and i would leave her alone with her kits and not open nest box for a week or so.as for feeding them well make sure your jill has plenty fresh meat and water.give her an egg yolk now and again just the yoke not the white.i give miune lactose free milk or soya.The kits will soon be eating raw meat even before their eyes open.Im sure your gonna get a few saying you should have found out how to rear kits before doing so,but whats done is done.Oh and they will eat you out of house and home its suprising the amount of meat the wee buggers get through.basically common sense mate keep your jill happy and the kits will come on before you know it,but i would totally stop handling them as from now mate.hope all goes well and good luck..

[Malt 379]

My advise is to leave them have as much peace as possible and let the jill raise them as nature intended. I'd try to limit my daily activity to topping up food/water & having a quick scoop out of the shit corner. Once the kits eyes are starting to open and they start coming out after the food, then's the time to start handling them.

[collie/grey 238]

Cheers for that mate, i only held the one kit, i'll leave them be now til they're walking about. I know the basics of rearing a litter as i said it was 3 or 4 years ago i last had a litter, just thought i would ask for any tips people had that i might not have known about. Why only the yolk from an egg, mine get whole eggs about 3 times a week and never had any probs with them. What age are they able to leave the mum these days 10-12 weeks old??

[tb25 4,627]

nise one c/g atb with them mate

[scothunter 12,609]

well i was told when i was lad to feed them the yolk of an egg and i have read it elsewhere aswell.and ive done so for years.to many eggs can cause alepecia,also the yolk is full of protein and the white is quite bad for bacteria.most get round this by boiling the egg,never do it myself but i know ppl who do.its just what i do mate and as i said i have read it in books and other places never to feed the white in a raw state.

[collie/grey 238]

But would they not eat the whole egg in the wild?

[scothunter 12,609]

But would they not eat the whole egg in the wild?

I dunno mate im not a ferret.You asked for tips on rearing them.its just what i do and it works for me.ive kept them for years and years.ive just done a quick google search and it says you shouldnt give any animal raw white of an egg and as i said its to do with bacteria.but hey if your are fine keep doing it.tbh i dont know if its rubbish or not but an old guy who gave me 1st fert when i was like 13 told me and ive been doing it ever since.

 

im now a bit curious myself maybe kay or someone can shed light on it.

but ill keep giving them the yolk as i have always done.

[dpb82uk 138]

But would they not eat the whole egg in the wild?

i wood say most wild bird eggs are a lot smaller than chicken eggs and most wild eggs will prob have half dveloped chicks in them so a good meal for them

[samba 534]

good luck wi the kits kayleigh what colours are the parents

[collie/grey 238]

Cheers all, everyones different i guess, never had probs feeding whole eggs so who knows lol. The mum is a sandy/smoky colour and the dad is albino samba, not that clued up on colours of ferrets tbh just as long as they work!!

[lorelei0922 2]

the reason for the advice about yolk only is because TOO much white can lead to alopecia... it inhibits a hormone that can make them lose their hair ... a whole egg now and then though isn't gonna hurt...

 

feed up your jill.. she'll be losing condition quite quickly nursing that many, lots of fresh meat.. fattier the better just now... if she becomes dehydrated you might consider electrolyte powder for her in her water

 

if she starts skipping the bones (one of my jills did) crush and powder an eggshell and put it in her meal to keep her calcium up..

 

you know YOUR jill... the best advise is to let HER take care of her kits... if you have to intervene do it quickly and quietly.. stay calm.. and if she tells you to get out... get out...

[collie/grey 238]

the reason for the advice about yolk only is because TOO much white can lead to alopecia... it inhibits a hormone that can make them lose their hair ... a whole egg now and then though isn't gonna hurt...

 

feed up your jill.. she'll be losing condition quite quickly nursing that many, lots of fresh meat.. fattier the better just now... if she becomes dehydrated you might consider electrolyte powder for her in her water

 

if she starts skipping the bones (one of my jills did) crush and powder an eggshell and put it in her meal to keep her calcium up..

 

you know YOUR jill... the best advise is to let HER take care of her kits... if you have to intervene do it quickly and quietly.. stay calm.. and if she tells you to get out... get out...

 

 

Thankyou for that advice, i haven't much meat to give this time of the year, but i am feeding james wellbeloved dry at the moment and an egg about twice a week and sardines which they love!

[wullieh 53]

the reason for the advice about yolk only is because TOO much white can lead to alopecia... it inhibits a hormone that can make them lose their hair ... a whole egg now and then though isn't gonna hurt...

 

feed up your jill.. she'll be losing condition quite quickly nursing that many, lots of fresh meat.. fattier the better just now... if she becomes dehydrated you might consider electrolyte powder for her in her water

 

if she starts skipping the bones (one of my jills did) crush and powder an eggshell and put it in her meal to keep her calcium up..

 

you know YOUR jill... the best advise is to let HER take care of her kits... if you have to intervene do it quickly and quietly.. stay calm.. and if she tells you to get out... get out...

could not have put it better myself.

[ferrety f 23]

Thankyou for that advice, i haven't much meat to give this time of the year, but i am feeding james wellbeloved dry at the moment and an egg about twice a week and sardines which they love!

 

Then get some chicken wings and cheap fatty mince from the supermarket, she needs meat more than ever now..